BlackBerry Z10 could be available in India next week for around Rs. 40,000

RIM is all set to globally launch the BlackBerry Z10 and X10 today, featuring BB10, the completely overhauled version of the BlackBerry operating system. Sunil Dutt, Managing Director, RIM India, had earlier revealed that after the global launch on January 30, the BlackBerry Z10 will reach Indian shores within two to three weeks. On the other hand, analysts have been predicting that these devices will not hit stores until March. However, BlackBerry fans may not have to wait that long as the Z10 is expected to be available in the next four to five days, owing to the tried and true grey market. According to a source, the device is likely to reach India in the next three to four days and the price quoted is around Rs. 40,000.

BlackBerry Z10 Hub

The flagship model Z10 features a 4.2-inch display with resolution of 1280 x 768, 16GB storage with a microSD card slot and an 8MP camera. There are several devices with similar hardware specs and priced around 30k to 40k. Pricing it around Rs. 40,000 means throwing it in a ring where proud contenders stand in the form of iPhone 5 and HTC Butterfly. Slightly lower than the 40k mark stands the popular Samsung Galaxy range. The 16GB iPhone 5 price ranges from 43k to 45k in the grey market. Among the devices not yet officially launched in the Indian market, the Nexus 4 is priced at Rs. 36,000 and the Lumia 620 is expected to be available by February 4.

However, the highlight is said to be the all new BB10 operating system. The company has been raving about its new gesture-based BB10 OS and calls it the future of mobile operating system. The new BB10 OS is said to be at par with the latest iterations of the Apple iOS and Google's Android OS. RIM hasn’t been in an enviable position, which it enjoyed mere five years ago, and the new BB10 devices could be a major deciding factor for RIM’s fate in the mobile space.